EARTH DAY TEXAS ANNOUNCES PRELIMINARY EXHIBITOR LINE UP FOR APRIL 2016 EVENT The world’s largest public green exhibition offers a sneak-­‐peek at the leading innovators bringing their stories to Fair Park this year DALLAS (Feb. 9, 2016) – Earth Day Texas (EDTx) today announced its preliminary line up of leading exhibitors that will make up the Eco-­‐Expo, the heart of the EDTx 2016 experience. EDTx is the world’s largest annual expo and forum for sharing the latest initiatives, discoveries, research, innovations, policies, products, and corporate practices reshaping the world. With more than 1,500 exhibit spaces expected to fill this year’s event, Eco Expo will be filled with fun and informational workshops, hands-­‐on interactive activities and demonstrations, educational and thought-­‐providing speakers and a variety of other dynamic programming designed to create a memorable interactive experience for the whole family. Eco-­‐Expo will feature environmental nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions, and government entities helping Visitors explore new technologies, immerse themselves in the world of sustainable living trends and policy, or purchase new and exclusive sustainable products. The Expo is as broad as it is deep. EDTx offers attendees the opportunity to learn about a vast array of environmental causes, issues, and solutions. Topics will range from ocean conservation to the clean energy economy to ways to lead a more enjoyable and sustainable life. Eco-­‐Expo Features Leading Innovators from Across the Globe EDTx exhibitors will include sustainability pioneers striving for a new world order – individuals and organizations challenging entrenched norms and building new products and systems to create fresh dialogue of hope around the most important environmental issues of today. Below are some of the inspiring exhibitors that will share their stories at EDTx 2016: • Billions in Change – The latest venture by Manoj Bhargava, the founder of 5-­‐
Hour Energy, the organization’s mission is to save the world by creating and implementing solutions to the most basic global problems – water, energy, and health. Bhargava and his team are engineering solutions to these basic needs to create a positive impact on billions of people around the world. • One Earth Designs – Founded by Dr. Catlin Powers and Scot Frank, the organization’s flagship product is the high-­‐performing SolSource solar cooker, which was inspired as a global solution for energy poverty for nomads in the Himalayas. The solar-­‐powered stove reduces fuel gathering time and indoor pollution, and today is used in more than 60 countries. The stove, which will be showcased at EDTx, “heats up five times faster than a charcoal grill, delivers a whopping 1,000 watts of power, and harnesses sunlight seven times more efficiently than an average photovoltaic solar panel.” •
Rainforest Partnership – A collaborative organization, Rainforest Partnership protects tropical rainforests by partnering with people at global and local levels to create long-­‐lasting deforestation solutions through income generation. By experiencing the organization’s relaxing rainforest listening app, attendees will unwind and escape to a world of soothing natural tropical sounds. In select areas around the event, participants are encouraged to bring along headphones, grab a hammock, and let the spirit of the rainforest wash over them. •
Oceanic Preservation Society – The nonprofit organization that promotes marine conservation and environmentalism made headlines across the globe with its December 2015 release of popular documentary Racing Extinction – linking overpopulation, globalization and animal agriculture to species extinction. Last year, founder and director Louie Psihoyos brought to EDTx the Texas Premiere of the film as well as a get-­‐away Tesla. This year, OPS will be back with gripping visuals of its journey across the globe to protect endangered species. •
The Great Seed Bomb – Based in Fort Worth, Texas, this organization represents a homegrown solution to the pollinator shortage. The Great Seed Bomb launched in 2015 as a thrilling 15-­‐mile bike ride featuring riders throwing seed balls – made of clay, organic compost, and native, non-­‐GMO milkweed and wildflower seed – from their bikes onto the land surrounding the trail to help restore the disappearing natural habitat where bees and monarch butterflies flourish. A portion of the money raised was donated to local environmental nonprofits to continue this work throughout the year and cities throughout the country are looking to replicate the event in their regions. The Great Seed Bomb is bringing its popular fun ride to Earth Day Texas, with a ride on Saturday, April 23 from White Rock Lake to the event at Fair Park. •
TreeHouse – This Austin-­‐based company sells green home and outdoor products, offers home consults for performance and sustainability, and provides classes and events for curious homeowners. It is the current passion project of The Container Store founder, Garrett Boone, who serves as Chairman of the Board and investor in Treehouse. The eco-­‐friendly hardware company will bring some of its products and projects to EDTx and explain its mission of making homes, communities, people, and nature coexist beautifully and harmoniously. more •
FIRST in Texas Foundation – Founded by celebrated entrepreneur Dean Kamen, FIRST is a nonprofit organization designed to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology through robotics. The organization will offer an interactive demonstration at EDTx, featuring its impressive recycling robots from past competitions to encourage aspiring STEM students to get involved and start building. Areas of Interest: Renewable Energy Clean and renewable energy development will be the cornerstone of a more sustainable future and a critical theme at EDTx. The event will host international tier-­‐one solar panel manufacturers SolarWorld and Vikram Solar, the nation’s leading residential solar installer Solar City, and local installers Axium Solar, O3 Solar Solutions, and 1 Solar Solutions. Other forms of renewable energy will also be featured at EDTx including wind (Texas leads the nation in installed wind energy capacity), geothermal developer EarthTech USA, battery manufacturer Northstar, and hydrogen group Air Liquide. In addition to showcasing their products and services for visitors to EDTx, these sustainable businesses will have the opportunity to network with and learn from one another. Together they may share their vision for achieving increased renewable capacity in the United States and for educating the public about accessing and benefitting from renewable energy. Areas of Interest: Food and Local Good Another prominent attraction at EDTx will be a carefully curated lineup of delectable healthy eats including organic and vegan fare from food trucks like Down to Earth Vegetarian Cuisine, Sykamore, and Samson’s Gourmet. Visitors may quench their thirst with local beverages such as Buda Juice or Oak Cliff Beverage Works, browse among their favorite vendors from the Dallas Farmers Market and discover new favorite Go Texan small businesses. Local food can be a powerful force for social good, especially right here in Dallas. The Harvest Project recovers food that would otherwise go to waste and gives it to people in need. Feed4Need helps the homeless and families with low socioeconomic status by providing educational programs to promote healthy eating options, giving them access to nutritional food, and helping to establish low-­‐income gardens. Farmers Assisting Returning Veterans (or FARM) is a veterans’ organization founded by and for veterans. Its goal is to help veterans re-­‐integrate into society and assist them in discovering a new sense of purpose through farming, gardening, and feeding communities in North Texas. more Areas of Interest: Environmental Favorites In addition to boasting the most sought-­‐after, up-­‐to-­‐the-­‐minute innovators at this year’s event, EDTx will also delight the most faithful environmental devotees by bringing back beloved crowd-­‐pleasers from previous EDTx events. Attendees will be able to interact with representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Coral Restoration Foundation, Groundwork Dallas, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law Institute, The Nature Conservancy, The Dallas Sierra Club, and Audubon Texas, among others. Also present will be Dallas-­‐centric groups working to make North Texas a more sustainable place to live. Expect to see Dallas Parks Foundation, Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden, The Trinity Trust Foundation, and more. Plan Your Visit: Department Layout Makes Earth Day Texas More Navigable With more than 1,000,000 square feet filled with endless numbers of inspiring and exciting interactive activities, displays, demonstrations and experts, EDTx this year has organized its event into easy-­‐to-­‐navigate “departments” organized around specialty areas and topics of interest. Exhibitors will be grouped within their respective categories to make it even easier for visitors to find and engage with the organizations they find most interesting. The 15 designated departments include: • Academic • Automotive and Transportation • Children and Family • Culture and Community Interest • Development and Urbanism • Electronics, Technology, and Innovation • Environmental Policy • Fashion and Beauty • Food and Agriculture • Health and Active Lifestyle • Home and Garden • Infrastructure and Industry • Natural Resource Stewardship • Ranching and Soil Health • Wildlife and Land Conservation The exhibition is the centerpiece of EDTx’s mission. Check out all the confirmed exhibitors at www.earthdaytx.org and plan your trip before you go! more About Earth Day Texas Each April, Earth Day Texas hosts the world’s largest public exhibition devoted to environmental stewardship, where attendees come together for breakthrough hope and discovery about how best to achieve a world of sustainable balance. The event is a platform that brings businesses, environmental organizations, academic institutions, and government agencies together to positively inspire people to think, live, and work sustainably. By providing enlightening talks, unique exhibits, and interactive workshops, EDTx catalyzes meaningful conversations that will shape a sustainable future. Sponsors for Earth Day Texas include Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, ONCOR, and Dallas Rapid Area Transit (DART) (Steward Level) and BNSF Railway Company (Advocate Level). All sponsors will exhibit and share their green stories at Earth Day Texas 2016. Media Contact: Alejandra Iraheta LDWWgroup [email protected] 972-­‐793-­‐2234